Activities
In line with its core mission, the Institute works to enhance public understanding of and access to research and information on the Church's mission by organising courses, seminars, discussion panels, lectures, internships, training, and policy programs.
Public Lectures
DISCERN organises a number of lectures throughout the year centering on the "Benjamin Tonna Lecture"; the "Discern Annual Lecture"; and the "Gaudium et Spes Lecture".
The Discern Annual Lecture
| 2010 |  | "il-Concilio Vaticano II Ieri, Oggi, Domani" H.L.Mgr. Luigi Bettazzi Bishop Emeritus of Ivrea |
| 2009 |  | "Is secularisation on the Reverse Gear?" Prof. David Martin Professor Emeritus in Sociology University of London Abstract |
| 2008 |  | "Beauty: A path to dialogue between believers and non-believers" Prof. Peter Serraccino Inglott Professor Emeritus in Philosophy University of Malta Interview published titled "Contemplating Beauty" |
| 2007 |  | "Children of the same God" Prof. David B. Burrell C.S.C. Hesburgh Professor in Philosophy and Theology University of Notre Dame |
| 2006 |  | "Cults, Sects and New Religious Movements: What are they doing in Contemporary Western Society?" Prof. Emeritus Eileen Barker Text Published |
| 2005 |  | "Reforming the Catholic Church: The mission of Cardinal Yves Congar" Rev. Fergus Kerr O.P. Text Published |
| 2004 |  | "Girls & God: Theology and Women Today" Dr. Janet Soskice Text Published titled "Imago Dei" |
| 2003 |  | "Spirituality and the Preferential Option for the Poor" Rev. Gustavo Gutierrez OP Text Published; Video Presentation Available |
| 2002 |  | "Discerning the Signs of the Times" His Eminence Cardinal Paul Poupard President of the Pontifical Council for Culture Text Published |
The Benjamin Tonna Lecture (instituted in memory of the first Executive Director of DISCERN)
| 2012 |  | "Medical Miracles: Faith, Fact or Fiction" David Mostofsky Professor of Psychology at the Boston University |
| 2011 |  | "The New Barbarians" Krzysztof Zanussi Professor of European Film at the European Graduate School |
| 2010 |  | "Teilhard de Chardin and Contemporary Mystic Quest" Prof. Emerita Ursula King Department of Theology and Religious Studies University of Bristol |
| 2009 |  | "A Church in Dialogue" Rev. Dr Michael Barnes SJ Heythrop College, University of London |
| 2008 |  | "The Political Economy of undocumented Migration" Prof. Stefano Zamagni Professor of Economics University of Bologna, Italy |
| 2007 |  | "Falling Church Attendance: Has Anything Gone Wrong?" Prof. Robin Gill Professor of Modern Theology University of Kent, CanterburyText Published |
| 2006 |  | "A Global Dilemma: The Diversity Problem and Modern Democracy" Prof. John Stone University of Boston, U.S.A |
| 2005 |  | "A Christian looks at the EU Social Dimension" Prof. Vera Negri Zamagni University of Bologna, Italy Text Published |
| 2004 |  | "Karl Rahner: theologian of Hope and Dialogue" Dr. Philip Endean SJ University of Oxford, U.K. Text Published |
| 2003 |  | "Catholic Education in Liberal Democratic Societies: Challenges & Predicaments" Prof. Terence McLaughlin University of London, U.K. Discussant: Rev. Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott Rector Emeritus: University of Malta |
| 2002 |  | "Vatican II: Of Happy Memory - And Hope?" Nicholas Lash Norris-Hulse Professor Emeritus of Divinity, University of Cambridge, U.K. Text Published |
The Gaudium et Spes Lecture
| 2011 |  | "Free To Believe?" A Religious Conscience in a Secular Society Roger Trigg Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, University of Warwick Academic Director, Centre for the Study of Religion in Public Life, Kellogg College, Oxford |
| 2010 |  | "Caritas in Veritate Fraternity, Reciprocity and New Economic Problems" Professor Stefano Zamagni Professor of Economics, University of Bologna, Italy Consultant: Pontifical Council "Justitia et Pax" Member: New York Academy of Sciences |
| 2009 |  | "Banking on Virtue?" Robert Keen Von Hugel Institute, St. Edmund College, University of Cambridge |
| 2008 |  | "Essere Politico Cristiano Oggi" Rt.Hon. Savino Pezzotta Member of the Italian Camera dei Deputati Text Published |
| 2007 |  | "Il Cristiano davanti alle sfide della convivenza" Professor Andrea Riccardi Professor: Roma Universita Tre Founder: Community of Sant' Egido organised in conjunction with the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice and the Justice and Peace Commission Text Published |
| 2006 |  | "Thinking Ethics while Teaching Economics" Rev. Dr. Frank McHugh Research Fellow at St. Mary's College, Twichenham former Fellow of St. Edmund's College, Cambridge Text Published |
| 2004 |  | "Bible Reading and the Formation of Ecclesial Basic Communities." Rev. Fr. Carlos Mesters Text Published |
| 2002 | | "Economics, Conscience and International Debt" Professor Stefano Zamagni University of Bologna, Italy Consultant: Pontifical Council "Justitia et Pax" Member: New York Academy of Sciences Text Published |
Discussion Panels
DISCERN organises a number of discussion panels in the form of Discerning Round Tables and Seminars.
| 2009 |  | "Zimbabwe: Finding hope in a time of Economic and Political Crisis" talk by Christopher Hingley organised in conjunction with St. Andrew's Scots Church, Malta Feature |
| 2008 | "Nicodemus Nights" various invited speakers | |
| 2007 | Seminar: "Confidence Building Strategies" Prof. Richard Rubenstein with introductory talks by Rev. Dr. Rene Camilleri and Rev. Dr. Joe Inguanez | |
| 2004 | "Ir-Riforma tal-Welfare f'Pajjizna" "Welfare Reform in Malta" Dr. Charles Pace; Dr. Joe Falzon, Ms. Sue Vella, Dr. Paul Pace organised in conjunction with Centru Fidi u Gustizzja - Centre of Faith and Justice Call Published | |
| 2003 | "Liberation Theology: an autobiographical note" Rev. Gustavo Gutierrez OP | |
| 2002 | "The Holy See, Culture and Discernment" His Eminence Cardinal Paul Poupard President of the Pontifical Council for Culture | |
| 2002 | "Il-Ligi tal-Familija" "The Family Law" Chairperson: Dr. Ruth Farrugia | |
| 2002 | "Il-White Paper dwar ir-Relazzjonijiet Industrijali" "The White Paper on Industrial Relations" Chairperson: Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino | |
Other Activities
| 2012 | "Pray, Pay and Obey: The Laity before and after Vatican II?" Dr Oonagh O'Brien Principal Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology University of Cambridge | |
| 2012 | "The Holy See's Document: Reforming the International Financial and Monetary System" Michael C. Bonello; John Cassar White; Lawrence Zammit and Joe Vella Bonnici | |
| 2011 | "Religion, Conflict and Violence in Contemporary and Historical Perspective" Kevin Avruch Henry Hart Rice Professor of Conflict Resolution Professor of Anthropology The School for Conflict Analysis & Resolution George Mason University, Virginia | |
| 2010 | "Just Wars in Theory and Practice" Prof. Richard Rubenstein Institute for Conflict Resolution and Analysis George Mason University, Virginia | |
